Serena, Goffin, Kuznetsova, Raonic Win ATP/WTA Titles

Serena Williams Struggles to 3rd WTA Stanford Crown

World No. 1 Serena Williams rebounded from a 1-5 deficit in the first set to defeat Angie Kerber 7-6(1), 6-3 for the title at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif.
ADHEREL
“It wasn’t easy,” Williams said. “I blinked my eye and I was down 1-5. Angelique was playing so well.” Kerber held two set points at 5-2 in the first set.

It was Williams’ third Stanford title, her fourth title of the year, and her 61st career title. She rose to only No. 4 in the 2014-only standings in the road to qualifying for the WTA year-end championships.

Kuznetsova Wins Washington, Ends 4-Year Drought

Former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova captured the Citi Open title in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, defeating Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the final.

“She hit a very heavy ball, so I cannot go very into the court,” Nara said. Nara in the semifinals rallied to beat Marina Erakovic 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.

It was Kuznetsova’s 14th career title and first since 2010. The 22-year-old Nara is now 1-1 in finals after capturing the 2014 Rio de Janeiro title.

Raonic Wins All-Canuck Final in U.S. Capital

The Citi Open in Washington was transported to Canada on Sunday when the maple leaf nation flexed its muscle with an all-Canada final. Milos Raonic defeated Vasek “Popsicle” Pospisil 6-1, 6-4 for the title in the first all-Canadian final of the Open Era (since 1968).

Raonic captured his sixth career title while Popsicle was appearing in his first ATP final. “I had a chance to break in every single game in that first set,” the world No. 7 said. “Then I continued to play solid after that. All in all, a very good performance and an important moment for me.”

Raonic with the win will move up to No. 6 on the ATP Rankings.

Goffin Completes Injury Comeback for ATP Kitzbuhel Title

Belgian David Goffin completed a comeback from wrist surgery that kept him off the tour late in 2013, on Sunday capturing his first career title at the bet-at-home Cup in Kitzbuhel, Austria with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over homecountry favorite Dominic Thiem.

“You work so much in the fitness room and on the court for a moment like today,” the 23-year-old said. “You play so many practices and so many matches to have this emotion, so when you win the match point you can’t control it.”

Goffin, projected to now crack the Top 50 rankings, is on a 20-match win streak which includes three Challenger-level titles at Scheveningen, Poznan and Tampere.